The Netherlands is proposing an exit tax, which could cost emigrants thousands of euros just to leave the country.

As we tend to live in a different country every year, we would be said emigrants…

For us, this has essentially made both of our home countries unlivable.

I wanted to live in Amsterdam since 2013, and now that I am here, it’s already time to leave.

“And that's around the time

That your idols become your rivals

You make friends with Mike

But got to A.I. him for your survival.”

The Netherlands is for sure one of the best places in the world to raise kids, and I can really appreciate the world-class infrastructure and the visible use of taxes.

However, the cost of living has made it unsustainable for us at this stage of life. [Power law strategy hasn’t kicked in yet]

In the past year, we’ve paid €39,600 in rent [housing crisis], and that’s on top of taxes, daycare costs, and running a business.

While this forced us to level up our income, it’s not a sustainable way to live.

The only other benefits to such a high rent is the reference letter and that we’re getting back €5,800 from our deposit, which we’ll use to fund our next move.

This is the advantage of renting over owning—we can just pivot like a startup before policies like the exit tax take effect.

With our lease ending on December 31st, today we’re booking flights to a country that’s not only family-friendly but also ideal for the startup studio.

Our new home offers:

- 0% personal income tax for the first 11 years

- 0% corporate tax for tech startups for the first 10 years

- No wealth tax, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, and no gift tax

Legacy countries like the Netherlands, once global powers, are tightening their grip with policies like this, while smaller nations are taking advantage of the opportunity to attract talent by doing the opposite.

By simply taking a flight - we are reducing our living costs by $3,000 per month!

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Today is also the “Black Friday” sale for airlines, so luckily we are saving an extra €300 on flights. And our youngest daughter turns 2 the second week of January, which is when we have to pay full price for her ticket. 🙃